How To Choose The Perfect Bridal Hairstyle To Complement Your Makeup
- Simone Whitehead Bridal hair
- Apr 23
- 6 min read
Updated: Apr 24
I’m sure it’s the same for every bride—the dilemma of choosing the perfect bridal hairstyle for their big day.
I’m Simone Whitehead, a bridal hair specialist with over 25 years of experience. And I'm delighted to be guest posting here and sharing my professional tips on how you the Bride, chooses The Perfect Bridal Hairstyle to complement her makeup.
From those very first conversations, I can tell you that while choosing your bridal hairstyle is one of the most exciting parts of wedding planning, it can also feel a little overwhelming.
With platforms like Pinterest, Instagram and Facebook loaded with beautiful inspiration, it’s easy to focus on the hair alone, without considering how it will work alongside your makeup and overall look.
In reality, your hair and makeup should complement each other perfectly. When they are thoughtfully chosen together, they create a balanced, cohesive look that feels effortless and photographs beautifully from every angle. Read on to discover How to choose your perfect Bridal Hairstyle to complement your makeup.
How We Begin To Find Your Perfect Bridal Hairstyle
Before your trial, I’ll always ask you to start gathering inspiration images of bridal hairstyles you love. This helps me understand what you’re naturally drawn to and the overall feel you’d like to achieve.
It’s also really helpful to look for images of brides with a similar colouring to your own, as this gives a more realistic idea of how a style may look on you. I often suggest booking your makeup trial on the same day too, as this allows us to create a cohesive, balanced look from the very beginning.
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The Importance of Your Bridal Hair Trial
Your bridal trial is where everything really comes together, and your opportunity to choose your perfect Bridal Hairstyle.
It’s your opportunity to see your chosen hairstyle in place, alongside your makeup, and make any small adjustments needed. Often, it’s the combination of both that allows us to refine the look, whether that’s softening a section, adding more structure, or making sure everything feels perfectly balanced.
Having this time together also helps create a sense of calm and confidence, knowing exactly how everything will come together on your wedding morning.
Your Overall Bridal Style
During your Bridal hair trial, we don’t just focus on the hair, we take the time to build a full picture of your overall style, your wedding setting, and how you want to feel on the day.
For example, softer, more natural makeup often pairs beautifully with relaxed hairstyles such as loose waves or textured updos, perfect for outdoor or more bohemian-style weddings. Whereas a more glamorous makeup look can work well alongside sleeker, more structured hairstyles, often suited to elegant venues or boutique settings.
For me, nothing is more important than creating the perfect bridal hairstyle that complements your overall look and feels completely in harmony.
A Few Things to Keep in Mind
Of course, there are always a few things to consider.
When looking at inspiration images, it’s easy to fall in love with those perfectly lit photos, the glowing skin, the glossy hair, the overall finish that feels almost looks like a 'we're worth it' style advert. And while they are beautiful, they don’t always tell the full story.
One of the most important factors when choosing your bridal hairstyle is your own hair, its texture, length and thickness and how it behaves. These elements play a big part in what can realistically be achieved.
That doesn’t mean your dream look isn’t possible, but it may mean adapting a style so it works perfectly for you. My role is to guide you through that process, make suggestions and making sure the final look feels just as beautiful, but also achievable, comfortable, and long-lasting.
Texture
Fine hair → softer styles, added volume, avoid overly sleek looks
Thick hair → holds structure well, great for fuller styles
✔ Length
Short/medium → may suit waves or softer styling
Longer hair → more flexibility (updos, braids, glam waves)
✔ Thickness
Thinner hair → benefits from texture + movement
Thicker hair → can carry more structured or detailed styles
The perfect bridal hair style is about working with your hair, not against it
Choose the perfect Bridal Hairstyle For Face shape & balance
Face Shape & Balance
It’s very common for brides to have certain features they feel more conscious about, whether that’s their ears, the nape of their neck, or the overall shape of their face. Part of my role is to take all of this into consideration and create a style that feels both flattering and comfortable.
Sometimes that might mean softly framing the face, adjusting the placement of the style, or choosing a look that gives a little more coverage in certain areas. The goal is always to ensure you feel completely confident and at ease with your chosen hairstyle.
This is also where seeing the finished hair alongside your makeup makes such a difference. When everything comes together, it creates a balanced, harmonious look that helps you feel truly wedding-day ready.
Next, The Dress...
The Dress, should complement the Perfect Bridal hairstyle you choose.
Nothing quite compares to the moment you see your wedding dress, it really is the centerpiece of your whole look.
Although I don’t always see the dress until the wedding day itself, (while I fit the veil) I always take time during the trial to understand its style, as this plays a big part in choosing the perfect bridal hairstyle.
For example, elegant up dos work beautifully with dresses that have detailed backs or higher necklines, allowing those features to really stand out. Softer styles, such as hair down or half-up, half-down bridal hairstyles, tend to complement more relaxed, romantic looks, and are often a lovely choice for backless dresses.
By considering your dress alongside your hair and makeup, we can create a look that feels balanced, intentional, and perfectly suited to your overall bridal style.
How Your Bridal Hairstyle Photographs
Your perfect bridal hairstyle doesn’t just need to look beautiful face on in the mirror, it also needs to translate well in your photographs.
Bridal hairstyles that have softness, movement, and balance tend to photograph more naturally, especially in different lighting throughout the day. Hair that is too structured or overly fixed can sometimes appear stiff on camera, whereas a well-balanced style will hold its shape while still looking effortless.
When your hair and makeup are working together, this creates a look that feels polished but still natural, something that will look just as lovely in your photographs years down the line as it does on the day itself.
A Final Thought On How To Choose The Perfect Bridal Hairstyle
Choosing your perfect bridal hairstyle isn’t about following trends or recreating a look you’ve seen online, it’s about finding a style that feels right for you.
By considering your hair type, your overall style, and how your hair and makeup work together, you can create a look that feels natural, comfortable, and truly reflective of you.
The end result should be something that not only looks beautiful, but also allows you to feel confident, relaxed, and completely yourself as you step into your wedding day.
The Perfect Bridal Hair and Makeup Team
When working closely with a makeup artist, it also allows us to create a look that feels completely in harmony. Having both hair and makeup considered together during your trial means we can make small adjustments that make a big difference to the overall result.
I’m lucky to regularly work alongside a trusted bridal makeup artist, and many others I often see from time to time (you know who you are) and through that experience, I’ve seen just how much of a difference this makes not just to how everything looks, but to how calm and confident brides feel on the day.
I hope you have enjoyed this guest post from me Simone Whitehead Bridal Hair. I cover most of the North East including North Yorkshire, Northumberland, County Durham, Newcastle and Sunderland.
If you would like to chat about finding your perfect bridal hairstyle and would like to find out more - contact me on the link below - I would love to hear your plans.
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